This page summarises the major current issues that affect residents
Spreading of Biosolids
This is continuing in the pine plantations in spite of our protests. Following the public meeting on 1 August 2008, we received feedback from Water Corp on 19 September (a delay of seven weeks).
Several documents were provided by Water Corp and are available here:
- Letter and attachments (1.7 MB)
- Letter from Forest Products offering an inspection of previously treated areas
- Biosolids - Frequently Asked Questions (This is the on-line version and is not identical to the hard copy document supplied by Water Corp but the content is very similar. Scanning the hard copy document would have created a very large file for people to download. If you wish to view the hard copy please use the Contact Us page of this site.
If you wish to comment on any of these documents you may use the Contact Us page or write direct to Water Corp.
LCHPSA Committee's regular monthly meeting is at 7:30 pm on Thursday 25th September. You are welcome to attend - this matter will be discussed and the committee will consider the possibility of another public meeting.
You may have noticed that the response from Water Corp does not address a number of issues that were raised with them including:
- Low rainfall during the trial period
- The actual pathogen level in the biosolids. It was verbally stated at the public meeting on 1st August that the pathogen level is in fact within the guidelines in spite of the fact that the DEC report clearly states that it is not. The lack of comment in the written response could be taken to mean that they have some reason not to confirm their verbal assurance.
- The measures taken to restrict access are inadequate (a couple of signs on some but not all of the routes that can be used to access the site and a notice in the newspaper).
LCHPSA will raise these issues again.
Extraction of water for road construction
Southern Gateway Alliance has applied for a licence to extract 120,000 kilolitres of water from a location near the end of the new highway. They are already pumping from a site near Doman Road.
This water would come from the aquifer we all use for our houses and gardens and which is also the major source of recharge for Lake Clifton.
An objection has been lodged with the Department of Water (click here to read)and the matter has also been referred to the Federal Department of Environment which is responsible for ensuring that the Ramsar wetlands are not damaged.
Peel Preservation Group, the Peel Harvey Catchment Council and Fragyle are also opposed to this extraction.
It will be a difficult battle but one that we need to fight.
UPDATE 25 September 2008 : following are the contents of an exchange of emails with the Federal Department of Environment, Heritage and the Arts DEHA. It appears that our concerns have been heard and that safeguards have been put in place. If you would like to comment please use the Contact Us page.
Message received from DEHA 15 September
The Department has looked into your concerns and has concluded that the extraction of 120,000 kilo litres is unlikely to have a significant impact on the nearby Ramsar wetland, in the context of the overall allocation limits set for this area for this year (65.7 giga litres).
Thank you for your interest in this matter.
Our response 16 September
Thank you Janine. However I remain concerned that this amount of water is to be taken from the Yanget mound and I wonder if your Department may have considered an area that includes other groundwater sources.
Yanget Mound is some 30 km long and averages perhaps 7 km wide. An abstraction rate of 65.7 GL from this mound would equate to something over 3 ML per hectare and I doubt that this amount is being taken only from this mound.
As Yanget appears to be the main source of recharge for Lake Clifton, would it be possible to have a closer look at this mound only?
Further message from DEHA 22 September
The Department has had another look at this matter in response to your concerns.
Following discussions with the Department of Water, the Department has been advised that the licenced allocation has been reduced to 44,000 kL under a temporary licence. This licence will not be automatically renewed. Monitoring data will be considered before any renewal decisions are made. Two monitoring points will be set up. Water levels in these monitoring points will be measured twice a week for the first month, and then, if data shows satisfactory results, reduced to weekly. Water level measurements and water quality analysis in the drawpoint itself will occur weekly. A daily limit has been set at 400 kL per day, and volumes drawn will be recorded. The drawpoint is 617 m from the southern end of Lake Clifton. The drawpoint is not directly from Yanget Mound. Groundwater flow through from the Yanget Mound to the Lake Preston sub area is believed to be limited. Direct local recharge is considered to be the main mechanism of aquifer replenishment.
I hope this adequately addresses your concerns.
Limestone
The application to extract limestone from the old pit at Lot 5 Old Coast Road has been referred to the Appeals Convenor within the Department of Environment. This appeal requests the Minister for Environment to ask the EPA to do a full review of the proposal.
This referral has been delayed by the recent election.
If the Minister decides that the EPA should not do a full review, the matter will be heard by the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT). The SAT hearing previously scheduled for 26 September has been adjourned and will now take place some time in November at the earliest. If the
If the Minister decides that the EPA should review the matter, SAT will not convene a formal hearing until EPA's decision is published. If EPA decides that a licence should not be granted, that should be an end of the whole matter. If EPA decides that a licence can be issued (hopefully subject to strict conditions), then SAT will make the final decision.